Felting machine



1932- H. M. ZOERB ET AL 1,870,940

FELTING MACHINE Original File April 13,-1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l InventorEfimw/zb mice/ab 85 m5 MOZ A/ 35 m (Tirol-neg:

1932. H. M. ZOERB ET AL 1,870,940

FELTING MACHINE Original Filed April 13, 1928 2 Sheets-:Sheet 2attorneys Patented Aug. 9, 1932 UNITED s rs ama HOVARD 1VL- ZOERB ANDRUDOLT P H W. BU ETTNER, OF'MILNAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AS-

-SIG-NOR T0 NORDBERG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A'i CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN 'FELTING MACHINE Original application filedApril 13,1928, Serial No. 269,824. Divided and this application filedMay 4,

This invention relates to machines for producing felt 0r felt-likesheets and the present application isa division of our applicationSerial No. 269,824, filed April 13, 1928. Sheets of felt-likematerialmade primarily of cow hair are quite extensively used as underlays forrugs and'carpets, and other purposes where a relatively inexpensivepadding material of reasonably good mechanical strength is required.

The invention resides in certain improvements in machines formanufacturing such felts. Such machines as heretofore constructthe cowhair and similar materials cu'stomariv ly used.

-Ordinarily these machines make use of a fixed horizontal supportingplate and a recip roca-ting overlying plate which compresses thematerial by its own weight. In the oper ation it is desired to changethe amplitude of reciprocating motion to meet certain contingenciesincurred in the manufacturing process. The prime object of. the presentinvention is the provisionofmeans for changing such amplitude of motionconveniently and accurately. I

Other features of novelty will appear from the detailed description tobe given of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine showing the platesseparated to receive raw material. r

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig.3 is a view of a portion of themain driving shaft of the machineshowing one of the adjustable eccentrics in detail.

Fig. 4 is a view of one of the adjustable eccentrics removed from theshaft and viewed from the right relatively to Fig.

Serial No. 534,967.

' Fig. 5 is a similar view looking from the left relatively to Fig. 3.

Supported on a suitable foundation are two beam-like frame members oneof which appears at 11, upon which is directly supported the lower plate13. This is a cored casting whose specific form is not here involved.

Attached tothe frame members are air lift cylinders 17, of any ordinaryform, having pistons connected to piston rods 18. Each rod carries atits upper end a yoke 19 having rollers 21. These rollers 21 coact withthe lower faces of brackets 22 bolted to the opposite ends of the upperplate 23. v V

The lift cylinders 17 are used toraise and lower the plate 23 relativelyto the plate 13. Bolted to the beam member 11 and also resting on thefoundation, are four frames 34, identical with each other and eachformed with seats to receive substantial bearing.

brasses 35 which are retainedby removable caps 36. :These bearingbrasses are alined and support. themain drive shaft 37 of the ma chine.This'shaft is rotated by a belt which runs on the pulley 38 fast on theshaft.

The'frames 34 are arranged in pairs, the frames of each pair beingrelatively close to each other so as to support the shaft on each.

side of an adjustable eccentric. This double support for the shaft-isadvisable becauseof the substantial mass of the plate 23 and the heavystresses imparted to the shaft [each time the directionof motion oftheplate is changed. p

Between the'frames of each pairthe shaft 37 is formed see Fig. 1) withan eccentric circular portion 41. In order to secure satisfactcrystrength this portion 41 is prefer- V ably larger in diameter than theshaft and is preferably integral with the shaft. Swiveled on theeccentric portion 41 is an eccentric annulus 42. By the term eccentricannulus we mean to bring out the fact that the internal. surface of themember 42, indicated at 43, is eccentric relatively to the externalbearing surface 44 of the member 42. It follows that the eccentricity ofthe bearing surface 44, relatively to theaxis of the shaft 37, may bevaried or adjusted by rotating the portion 41 of the the internalsurface 43; l

Mounted in the flange 45 and slidable in a direction parallel with theaxis of the shaft 37, is a stop pin or indexing pin 47having a taperedhead 48 whichwhen projected by a spring'49 enters and fits closely inone of the holes 46, thus latching the annulus 42 in a definite angularrelation to the shaft 37. The member 48 is retractable by a; knob 51 andisused merely to secure accurate initial positioning of the annulus 42.-lVhen so p0- sitioned it is locked to the shaft 37 by a collar extension52 formed integrally with the annulus 42 and split diametrically asindicated at 53. This split permit the collar to be deformed and clampedtightly upon a portion of the-eccentric part 41 of the shaft. 37 bymeans of heavy bolts 54 provided for that purpose. The split collar. 52is formed with two diametrically opposed. bosses 55 which are bored at56 to receive a bar which is temporarily inserted merely to turn theannulus 42 onthe eccentric portion 41. To makethis adjustment the bolts54 are, of course,

loosened and the tapered bolt 48 is withdrawn.

The purpose of the bolt 48 is not to carry any load,.but is merely toinsure accurate positioning of the annulus42 at the time the bolts 54aretightened. This accurate positioning is necessary because two eccentricsare used, and unless the eccentricity of the two bemade identical in thevarious concur rent adjustment serious wear is inevitable. To accomplishthis result the-twoeccentric structures are counterparts, the angularspacing of the holes 46 being the same on both of the annuli 42 and thelocation of the tapered bolt 48 being the same on the two collars 45. va

Running on the outer bearing surface 44 of each of the annuli 42 is acorresponding eccentric strap 57 whose rod 58 is pivoted at 59 tolugs 61fast on the upper side of the upper plate 23. r i j 1 To stop therotation of the shaft 37 there is provided a brake drum 62 with whichthere coacts a brake band 63 which may be contracted into brakingengagement with the drum by depressing a pedal 64. The pedal 64 isconnected to contract the brake band 63 by a linkage of ordinary form.

In operating the machine the plates are appropriately heated asdescribed in the parent application. 7

The lift cylinders 17 are operated to lift plate upon the material.

the air lifts 17 are operated to lower the upper Rotation of the shaft37 causes the plate 23to reciprocate in a horizontal direction whileresting upon the material, and the effect is to compactand felt thematerial into a sheet having the desired mechanical properties. 7

On the completion of the operationthe air V lifts lift the plate 23sothatthefinished sheet may be removed... If at any timev it. is desiredto change the amplitude of reciprocationof the plate 23, the bolts 54 onboth eccentrics are loosened, the bolt 47 is retract-. ed and'the twoeccentric annuli 42 are-rotated simultaneously and by the same amount tothe desirednew position, in which they. are again positioned bytheir'respective bolts 48. l/Vhilso positioned th'e-', anm1'li are clamped infixed relation upon the shaft 37 by setting up thernuts on thebolts..54.

The device is of simple and ruggedconstructon. I The eccentrics maybeeasily adjusted and when adjusted maintain their adjustmentindefinitely. I

Obviously various changesin the details of construction may bemade andwedo not mean totlimit'ourselves except to the extent specified intheclaim.

, What is claimed is; I The combination. with a feltingmachine-including relatively reciprocable 1 plates, of means for.relatively reciprocating, said plates with avariable amplitudeofreciprocating motion, said means including rotatable shafthavingcircular portions eccentric rela- 10o tively thereto, atleast twoeccentric-annuli rotatable on said eccentric portions to vary theeccentricity o-fthe annuli relatively to the shaft; means forpositioning said annuli in similar adjustments including inter-engagingmembers on the shaft and on said eccentric annuli respectively; meansindependent of said positioning means for fixingsaid annuli in saidadjusted positions, said independent means comprising split extensionson the anhuh and threaded means for contractingsaid extensions upon theeccentric portions of the shaft; and eccentric straps journaled on saidannuli and connected with one of said'plates.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to'this specification. I 1v2 RUDOLPH BUETTNER.

HOWVARD M. ZOERB.

the upper plate 23, the layer of material to] V be felted is placed onthe plate 13, after which

